“Hands up! Don’t shoot!”  

A phrase that all Black lives have come to represent and understand. A small yet powerful phrase that people yell and shout while marching down streets trying to get people to fight for us. 

How many more Black deaths need to be witnessed for Americans to wake up and realize we need a change? 

“When the color of your skin is seen as a weapon you will never be seen in this country as unarmed.”  

While many sources claim that statement, it is so powerful it warrants being repeated:   When the color of your skin is seen as a weapon you will never be seen in this country as unarmed.

The Black Lives Matter movement is a powerful movement that has been trying to achieve justice and equality for many years. While protesters have the freedom of speech, yet when it is used to march down streets they often end up on the ground being beaten by police officers, the ones who made an oath to “Protect and serve.”

As a woman of color, I am saddened to see people not realizing the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. I recognize that people have different views on this movement and have different beliefs, such as All Lives Matter. The All Lives Matter organization goes against the Black Lives Matter movement. What I mean by this is, when we say “Black Lives Matter,” they say “All Lives Matter.” All Lives Matter contradicts the Black Lives Matter movement because Black Lives matter isn’t just a protest. It’s a way to inform the world about the long line of black deaths that never received justice. All lives matter is a response to Black Lives Matter. The phrase isn’t saying ONLY Black Lives Matter it’s saying Black Lives Matter, too.

What will it take for Black lives to be valued? What will it take to ensure Black skin isn’t looked at as a weapon? Black skin should be looked at as a symbol of greatness, empowerment, community, and love. Black lives are beautiful and should be seen as such.

When people say “All Lives Matter,” to me it means white lives matter. I say this not to anger you but to understand why I think this. If All Lives Matter, why are Muslims, Asians, Native Americans, Blacks, and Mexicans treated differently than people who are white? 

We need a change, and if you can’t see that, you are a part of the problem. 

It’s long past time for a change. It is time for justice and equality. In order for change, justice, and equality, we need to understand the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement and listen instead of letting it go in one ear and out the other. We need to be aware of what is happening to the Black lives. Don’t just stand by and watch it happen, do something. We need to start moving in the same direction instead of trying to repeat what has already been done.

Why do we learn about history? The simplest answer is so we don’t repeat it. Yet this is exactly what is happening. For instance, segregation. There was a time when bathrooms, buses, water fountains, schools, churches, and so on  were marked with “Whites Only.” You would think that since it’s 2020 there is no segregation but yet you are wrong. On December 22, 2020 a permit was approved in Murdock, Minnesota for a “Whites Only” church. This is a perfect example of history repeating itself.

 I am aware this is going to take some time, but all we have is time, time to change. Be a part of the protests and rallies, help us get our voices heard. Another way is possibly joining the club at Centennial High School called Black Student Union (BSU). All are welcome. They discuss a different topic every week and meet around 3-4 p.m. on Wednesdays. 

Be a part of the change and help get voices heard. We need justice and equality, we can’t make a change when everyone is on opposite sides of each other. 

As Barack Obama said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”